Needle holding spool



Jan. 17, 1939. s. L. PRESS 2,144,199

` NEEDLE HOLDFNG SPOOL Filed Sept. 24, 1937 fil lll

Patetd Jan. 17,1939

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to needle holding spools of fibrous material, such for example, as wood. The object is to provide a thread containing spool with a hole or channel extending longitudinally within the body of the spool between its central bore and its periphery.

This hole or channel is preferably inclined to the plane of spools end face, and extends entirely through the spool fromA end to end, or it may extend through one end of the spool to near, but not through the other end.

'Ihis hole or channel is adapted to receive a sewing needle, suitable for the thread wound upon the spool.

The hole or channel may be of suicient length to receive the entire length of the needle, which is usually the preferred embodiment.

The channel may have such cross-sectiona1 dimension in `a part at least of its longitudinal extension, as to receive the needle with a reasonably close fit so that the needle may be inserted and normally held therein but may be easily withdrawn therefrom.

Various other means may be provided within the channel for normally holding the needle therein, while at the same time permitting its withdrawal therefrom with the application of slight force. In other words the hole or channel may be so formed or dimensioned as to hold the proper needle therein, against accidental displacement, or separate meansmay be provided within the channel for holding the needle or needles against accidental displacement. The hole or channel may be adapted to hold one needle or a plurality of needles, with suitable means within the hole for preventing their accidental dislodgment. As a means for arbitrarily withdrawing a needle from the hole, the needle is inserted in the hole with a piece of thread attached thereto, the portion of thread which projects from the hole, providing means for withdrawing the needle from the hole.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates merely by way of example, suitable embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the needle holding spool.

Fig. 2 is a top view, in plan, of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar sections on a larger scale, showing modifications.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on a still larger scale, to show more clearly the needle gripping means shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 'l is a View in perspective and part section on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 isla longitudinal section on the same plane indicating the method of partially closing the channel.

Similar numerals refer throughout the several views.

In the examples shown in the drawing, I I represents a spool of thread, h-aving the central bore I2. I3 represents the slightly inclined hole or channel extending longitudinally between said bore I2 and the periphery of the spool. This channel or hole I3 is adapted to receive the needle IIWhich is inserted therein and which is preferably provided with a thread I attached to the needle I4.

Whileit may sometimes be desirable to provide the hole or channel I3 of such dimensions as to secure a close t of the needle therein, this will require a needle within certain size limits, so that it is usually desirable to provide means whereby needles of substantially different sizes may be held by the same spool. That is to say, itisusually preferred to provide the hole I3 of such diameter as to receive one or more needles, and to provide suitable means in combination therewith for securing the needle or needles in the hole or chann-el against accidental displacement.

In accordance with the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 a magnetized piece I9 of steel, or other suitable material, is forced into or secured in one end ofthe hole or channel I3. This magnetic piece lmay be in the form of a resilient loop, so that, when the needle I4, is inserted in the hole or channel I3, it will engage the piece I9, which to similar l parts will act as a magnet, normally to hold the needle in place until sufficient force is applied to overcome said magnetic attraction.

In accordance with the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, a string gripper or clamp 2|l'is secured in one end opening of channel I3 with outwardly curved contacting lips 2 I, so arranged that when the needle I4 is inserted into the channel I3, the needle point will enter between said lips 2| and will be held thereby against `accidental dislodgment. f

It will be understood that various forms of gripper may be used, and the same may be formed to cooperate with the Wall of the hole or channel to clamp one or more needles.

In accordance with the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, a sharp pointed instrument, such as a cent-er punch I'I, is driven into the spool at the top or bottom, or both, adjacent the margin of the hole or channel opening, thereby upsettingA the ber, which is an integral part of the spool, as indicated at I 8, and partly closing or obstructing the said opening. Since said fiber is usually soft and yielding, a needle may be pushed easily into the channel I3 past the upset or distorted ber. Thus, said distorted ber will effectively prevent the accidental dislodgment of the needle from the channel.

It should also be noted that, in accordance with the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, a wide range of needle sizes, or even a. plurality of needles, may be carried by a single channel in the spool, simply by making the hole or channel I3 of sufficient area of cross-section, and by upsetting or distorting a larger area I8 of the ber adjacent to or surrounding the opening of the hole or channel.

Since however the ber, as stated, is soft, only a. slight external force will be necessary to Withdraw the needle from the channel past the distorted iiber.

In this application, the term integral is used in its limited sense as applied to mechanical devices. That is, it is used to describe a construction which is all of one piece of material, as contrasted with a construction which is composed of several interconnected pieces oi?V material.

Where the channel I3 extends entirely through the spool and is open at both ends, as sho-wn in Flg. 8, it is usually desirable to partially close the opening at each end` as described. The portion of thread I5 which is left in the needle, may be utilized in applying the necessary external force for withdrawing a needle from the spool. The free end or ends of the thread I5 may be secured in. the slit I6 which is usually provided in the ilange of the spool I I.

It sometimes happens that the needle is longer than the spool, when it is desirable that the needle should be entirely cased within the spool, for packing and other purposes. For example, in Figs. l and 3 the spool is shown as 1% inches long, While the needle may be over 1% inches long. In such case the needle may be entirely cased within the spool by making the hole diagonal, extending at both ends into the ange.

Obviously a single spool may be provided with more than one hole or channel.

What I claim is:-

l.. A needle holding spool, having a hole extending longitudinally therein from one end toward the other end between the bore of the spool and its periphery, and a magnetized element secured inl said hole for engaging the inserted needle and normally maintaining the same against accidental displacement.

2. A. device of the character described, comprising a spool of fibrous material, having a needle receiving channel extending within the spool from one end toward the other end, and between the bore cf the spool and its periphery, said channel having projecting therein, a distorted portion of the material forming the main body of the spool for yielding engagement with the needle to prevent its accidental displacement.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a spool of fibrous material, having a needle receiving channel extending within the spool from one end toward the other end, and between the bore of thel spool and its periphery, said channel having an integral portion of its wall projecting into said channel to prevent accidental displacement of the needle.

SYLVIA L. PRESS.

CII 

